With You

Scars and Love

Eridan turns and heads out of the dugouts, taking you with him. After he gets past the fence, he starts limping and winces.

"You okay..?"

He nods and holds your hand tighter. The two of you walk in the darkness in complete silence. You walk down an unfamiliar road, and stop in front of an unfamiliar house. Then you realized it was his road and his house. Still clutching your hand tightly, he walks up to the front door and steps in, pulling you in against him. As he shuts the door, footsteps are heard upstairs and then clamber down them. He was a tall man with hair just as dark as Eridan's. It was his father, the resemblance was quite obvious. His eyes immediately fix to yours.

"Who the hell is this?"

Eridan sighs and holds a hand out to him in a calming gesture.

"Easy, she's just... My girlfriend. And I'm quite sure there's other things worse to worry about."

His father look at Eridan in confusion, then in surprise.

"What the hell happened to you?!"

As he limps past his father and up the stairs with you, he winces out his words.

"Your crazy son. I try helping him, and he does this to me. I told him you would knock the crap out of him. Please do."

His father watches him sadly.

"I will, don't worry. I'm going to have a long talk with him."

"Dad. Please... Please don't treat him differently now.. Since we know about his... Secret."

"I've already talked to your mom about it. You just worry about getting cleaned up."

"Yes sir."

Eridan nods to his father as he stands at the top of the stairs, then turns and heads down the hall to the bathroom. You step in with him and he shuts the door before turning and sitting on the edge of the tub. He was still holding your hand, so you had to crouch. You look up at him and speak softly.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

He doesn't answer, he simply shrugs and releases your hand to rest his head in his palms. You see the blood on his face has crusted, and that his hands were scratched and swollen from the struggle. You stand and search the bathroom for washcloths and medical supplies. Finding both, you wet the cloths with cold water and kneel in front of him. The cold cloth pressed to his forehead makes him jump and shiver as you wipe and blot away the blood on his face. He watches you silently as you press the cloth to his split lip, then to the cut on his jaw. You notice part of his shirt was ripped at the hem and went up to show some skin of his stomach. Not even realizing what you were doing, you push aside the fabric to the wounds underneath. He tenses when you touch the skin there and lift up the torn fabric more to get a better look. More bruises and cuts and... Words. No. Burns. There were fresh burns on his skin that spelled out words. You gasp silently and look at him. He simply looks down at you and speaks lowly.

"He decided to write out what I am on my skin."

You blink at him and he sighs, shrugging off his shirt and tossing it in the trash. You flush the slightest as you watch him, then draw your gaze to the bubbled flesh on his torso. The words you read made you upset and angry. "Loser", "Ugly" and "Pansy." Those were the words scrawled across his stomach. But the ones on his chest though, made you feel sick. "EMO" , "Anorexic" , "DIE" , and finally, "Monster." These words were fresh too. You bite your lip and look at him. Your voice nearly shaking when you mutter to him.

"He did this?"

He nods and looks away. You look to the burned words again, then press a cold cloth to them, making him shudder. After a while of tending to his scratches, cuts, and burns, you put everything back where you found them. Eridan stands and steps up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and burying his face in the back of your neck.

"I'm so sorry you have to see all this. I'm so sorry you got dragged into it."

You lean into him and sigh.

"Don't be sorry. I dragged myself into it. I chose to be a part of it.. And.. I'm glad I did.."

"... Why?"

You smile weakly at him through the mirror.

"Because now I know you're safe and sound. Now I know you have someone. Now I know you have someone that understands this all."

He smiles back lightly and kisses your ear before pulling away and opening the bathroom door. Eridan steps out and heads farther down the hall to a bedroom, assuming it was his. The room was too dark for you to make out the details, but all you knew was where the bed was after you followed the sound of Eridan collapsing on it. He grabs your hand and tugs you down next to him, making you gasp and giggle slightly. His arms wrap around your waist and you blush and whisper to him.

"You're awfully bold for having your first girlfriend.."

You feel him shrug, and hear a smile in his voice.

"I'm just doing what feels right. Does this bother you..?"

You smile and nuzzle into his embrace, your nose nudged against

his.

"No.. I think it feels right too. And I like it.."

"I like it too.."

Eridan smiles and nuzzles his nose against yours, then kisses you gently. You blush but kiss back just the same. After a few minutes, the two of you pull away and lay there with each other; Eridan soon breathing softly in his sleep. You roll over in his arms and lay with your back faced to him, trying to get more comfortable. The movement startled him and made him take in a quick breath before relaxing and pulling you close against him. So close you could feel his heartbeat through the fabric of your jacket and shirt. You smile and giggle softly. Eridan hums a bit, still drowsy and nearly asleep.

"What is it..?"

You smile and place your hands over his.

"I'm with you.."

Eridan smirks and hums again as he places a kiss to the nape of your neck.

"You're with me.."

Soon after a few minutes, Eridan falls asleep again. And you soon follow after him, snuggling into the warmth of his relaxed embrace and let your eyes drift close. You fall asleep with a small smile on your face. Feeling happy. Fulfilled. And complete.